Menam was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1959.

Where can I see Menam?

Menam is held by Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

Artwork

Menam

Marie-Louise Carven , 1959

Menam is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1959 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1959 by French couturier Marie-Louise Carven, *Menam* is a fashion sketch rendered as an image. It depicts a woman wearing a long green coat with a voluminous white collar, presented in two complementary studies: a side view of the figure and a flat, folded rendering of the garment itself.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing emphasizes the coat’s silhouette, highlighting the relationship between structure and movement. By juxtaposing a three‑dimensional figure with a two‑dimensional plan, Carven conveys both the aesthetic appeal of the finished piece and the practical considerations of its construction.

Technique & Style

Executed with swift, gestural lines, the sketch marks buttons, seams, and fabric folds in a manner reminiscent of a designer’s working notebook. The minimal palette and rapid strokes suggest a preliminary study rather than a finished illustration, focusing attention on form over decorative detail.

History & Provenance

Marie-Louise Carven founded her eponymous fashion house in 1945 and was an early adopter of ready‑to‑wear lines alongside haute couture. *Menam* entered the Museum of Ethnography’s collection, where it is preserved as part of the institution’s documentation of mid‑century fashion design.

Context

The sketch reflects post‑war shifts in French fashion toward practicality and accessibility, aligning with Carven’s reputation for lightweight fabrics and designs tailored to petite women. It illustrates the designer’s method of translating a garment concept into a concise visual guide for production.